Sewing Bookmarks

Like last year, I started with a Handwork block of sewing in the afternoons. Listening skills, sequencing and following directions, fine motor skills, care of the environment, care of materials, all plays out in activities such as threading a needle, tying a knot, and so on. During the first two days, we made the "Fan for a hot summer day" project from All Year Round Today we made felt bookmarks. This was simple -- a strip of 100% Pure Wool Feltfor each child.




Then I had a large basket of felt scraps which we turned out and the children chose pieces they wanted to use to add interest to their bookmarks. The children cut suns and stars, diamonds and hearts, clouds, stripes (and one piggie nose) and sewed them on to their felt strips. I had given lessons for the past two days on threading your needle and tying a knot so I let the children try these things independently. They created their own designs for their bookmarks. It took about 40 minutes all told and the classroom was joyfully noisy during the choosing time, then peaceful, focused and silent during the sewing time.